Edibility: Wormwood (specifically Artemisia absinthum) has a
bad rap. The fluorescent green anise-flavored spirit absinthe is made from wormwood. An alkaloid from the wormwood,
thujone, was reputed to be a madness-inducing, addictive drug, blamed (among many other things) for
Vincent Van Gogh’s descent into madness. None of this is true, and this drink, banned in 1915,
is once again available in the United States. In any case, the wormwood plant is not considered
edible.